SAM - The Successive Approximation Model of Instructional Design

If you’re looking for an instructional design process that’s all about building prototypes, moving quickly, and iterating, then the Successive Approximation Model (SAM) may be the process for you! 👉Download the Become an ID Checklist: www.devlinpeck.com/become-an-...
Michael Allen’s SAM approach focuses heavily on prototyping and offers a strong alternative to waterfall instructional design processes like ADDIE.
This model builds consensus quickly is, overall, a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
SAM is also a popular model in the tech space, so if you’re looking for an ID role in that field, being able to speak knowledgably about SAM may help you stand out to potential hiring managers or clients.
Follow along as we explore SAM and discuss how you can use it on your next project.
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How to Become an Instructional Designer Playlist: • Action Mapping for Ins...
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**Book Recommendations**
Michael Allen's Guide to eLearning: amzn.to/31ZUbJB
The Non-Designer's Design Book: amzn.to/3kP0reO
Map It: amzn.to/3f137mR
eLearning and the Science of Instruction: amzn.to/3kNuBiF
Design For How People Learn: amzn.to/3CLtrNM
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Full writeup: www.devlinpeck.com/posts/vide...
0:00 Intro
1:21 ADDIE vs SAM
3:24 Benefits of SAM
4:57 Successive Approximation
7:40 Fundamentals
10:41 Simple SAM
11:44 Evaluate
12:41 Design
13:51 Develop
15:18 Rinse & Repeat
16:35 Let’s do it together!
18:23 Three-Phase SAM
19:30 Preparation
12:28 Iterative Design
22:50 Iterative Development
24:28 Next Steps

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Join us in the ID community to network, connect, and grow together: www.devlinpeck.com/id

[@carriesusong]

I love the idea of an interactive game to simulate an ID's real-world experience!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Great, thanks Carrie! Looking forward to creating it with you all 😃

[@nehalahmumtaz5380]

hi Devlin. I am an electronics engineer. your channel motivated me to become an ID, and after 4 years of eng profession, i gave it up, and joined a company as an ID in April. learning from you every day. thank you soo soo much.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Amazing!! You’re very welcome, and congrats on making that transition successfully 😃

[@suzannehakimipour3012]

I love the role-playing concept for ID learning--count me in! :)

[@LearningLabyrinthbyKimEdwards]

I cant believe you have not had 500 likes yet.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Haha yes, it doesn't look like that project will be happening. But I'm glad I got this video out there regardless :D

[@paulharris3734]

Hey Devlin, as a behaviour analyst who has just stepped into the ID space, I found this so interesting. Thank you!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Hey! Welcome to the ID community :D I'm sure you're starting to notice all the overlap between behavioral psych and learning theory. Thanks for watching

[@mariamas.3312]

Thank you, Devlin. The way you explain these methodologies - SAM, ADDIE, etc is super helpful! 👏🙏🥳

[@mollysomerville6765]

I’d love to be a part of a group build. I really enjoying seeing how other people build courses and go through the process. I think it’s one of the best ways to learn!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Glad to hear it, Molly! Looking forward to doing the group build if enough people are interested 😃

[@robynpost8733]

Your videos are solid gold. Thank you!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You're welcome!!

[@DanielGarcia-pb1lt]

Sign me up! I would love to participate in something like this, it sounds super fun! Thanks Devlin for putting this idea out there!

[@asmam.2776]

I hope you are still considering building a prototype based on the SAM model. I am super excited about it!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Thanks Asma! Definitely open to it if enough people want to see it :D

[@ohlenegia]

Thanks so much for this video, Devlin! I am learning this in my Masters program right now and I was awfully confused. Your video made it so easy to understand and digest! Thanks for all that you do!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You’re so welcome! I’m really glad that the video helped 😃

[@jeffmartin8335]

SAM is much closer to the reality of my ID role than ADDIE - I work in higher ed. I prefer to create the prototype in our LMS rather than create it as a storyboard using Word or PowerPoint etc. Though we often get feedback from stakeholders through email/text-based software, it is much easier to just edit within the LMS once we get that feedback rather than recreating it from a storyboard within the LMS. IMO it is much easier to just create / prototype using the software where the final product will be built. Love your content!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

That makes a lot of sense! Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Jeff 😃

[@JessieCarty]

I love the idea of having a meta role-playing experience to learn instructional design. Hope you get all the likes you need to make that happen :) We don't specifically call it SAM, but I feel we do use more of a iterative prototyping process in most of my work than linear ADDIE for sure.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Thanks Jessie! Yes, to be honest I’ll probably want to do something with that game whether the likes come in or not…it’s just a matter of when 😃. And that’s great, idk how you feel about it but I love prototyping, lol.

[@JessieCarty]

@@DevlinPeckYT I LOVE prototyping

[@kelechim-8406]

Love the collaborative SAM project you suggested near the end of your video!

[@kas2047]

DP knows how to train cats too?! What a stellar ID...teaching all creatures.

[@miloudbouchefra200]

Thanks a lot for the very informative video Devlin, super clear and to the point as usual, and I'd love to see you working in action, doing SAM and other parts of the ID process, Imean what's better than observing and learning from the best. Keep up the good work.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Thanks Miloud! I’m glad that you enjoyed the video, and I look forward to building that project if enough people would like to see it 😃

[@crazycrypto9454]

I would like to see it too Devlin. Btw just wanted to say you are the best channel on id in this space. Appreciate your contributions as they are genuine and valuable. Keep it up!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

@@crazycrypto9454 Thanks so much! Glad you're enjoying the content :D

[@virginiabutler1396]

Would love to help with the role-playing game process! Have joined your ID community.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Thanks Virginia! I can’t stop thinking about it 😃

[@mickeyoshea2035]

'Like' # 599! I love the idea of the collaborative ID scenario based Interactive Game. I have a niche interest in using tools like Twine to create interactive fiction based on historical events.

[@sarahkirk1632]

Thank you Devlin for this thorough video, it's helped me a lot understand this model of ID. I feel like you went a bit fast on the "FULL SAM" at the end, I wished you talked a bit more about the implement step in the iterative development phase, as I'm not too sure what it refers to. Would love an interactive experience for ID. Wonderful job again, thank you :)

[@denbatteful]

Thanks!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching 😃

[@Kumar-rq9ro]

Thanks.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You’re welcome!

[@rodgersowoko]

I like the idea of trying out SAM together. Did it happen? I just watched this video a year after you posted this.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Yeah it was a cool idea! We didn't get to that many likes in time, but it's something to consider for the future! Thanks for watching :D

[@MarieSlim]

I love SAM - the reiteration helps me so much as I love the creative process of ID. Thanks @DP! I have that book but need to read it.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You’re welcome, Marie! Prototypes for the win 😃

[@tranz4mdone]

Love, love love your videos. I have a background in teaching and curriculum development and program/ project development as well as coaching psychology and have decided to give ID a go. So I've been approached by a potential client to do a project. Project design and design a training program for their "providers" Expected turnaround 25-30 days. Would you say this is doable? Any suggestions on where to start with pricing? Last question do you have any videos on prototyping? Tia

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Hi Veronica! Thanks for asking about this :D. And that's great that you're diving deeper into ID...it's a wonderful field with plenty of opportunity. Regarding whether that project is doable in 25-30 days...it really depends on the scope of the project, your speed, and your availability. Worth a try though and then you'll have a better idea of how to gauge the next one :D. And I don't have any specific videos on prototyping, but it's addressed in a handful of them (action mapping ones, some of the Storyline development ones, this one, etc)

[@tranz4mdone]

@@DevlinPeckYT thanks for your immediate response. Though I do work fast, the client has informed me they need everything from slides to conduct training, to job aids to address job descriptions, the works and need a quick turnaround. Just from your experience, do you mind sharing a round about suggestion of a starting price point? I know it is subjective, but I find I tend to go too low. I'm not wanting to do that anymore. Your guidance is greatly appreciated. I've watched almost all of your videos and think they are a Godsend. And I'm now considering one of your boot camps. Anywho, I'd love to hear your number for about 80-160 hours of work to complete the items I mentioned above.

[@paulc9668]

Surely this all depends on the scale of a project - if you consider industries where there are broad and deep performance, conditions and standards (Health and Safety etc). For me, it is semantics - different gearing and ratios dependent on project scale. ADDIE is more about 'assurance' imo, the bigger the project the more money spent, the more assurance needed. Smaller, narrower projects and shorter time frames may tolerate, or demand SAM - but the processes are used in both systems in my experience.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Yes, scale is so important when it comes to the ID model and approach of a specific project! Thanks for sharing and watching :D

[@leenay6566]

Operant conditioning reminds me of the BBT episode where Sheldon conditions Penny with chocolate

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Haha yes, good reference!

[@kevingoldsmithID]

Hi, Devlin! How did you create your intro? Thanks!

[@PawarGurmeet]

Hello Devlin 2 quick questions 1. According to Joe Pulichino in his LinkedIn course says that idea that ADDIE is step based design and is fixed or can't be customised to situation is wrong interpretation as ADDIE is just a name given to different ID actions. Nobody developed ADDIE, nor it came out in one go instead different design activities got added at different stages Another thought is that SAM is just another name to ADDIE actions in relation to agile/lean movement. How do you see that? 2. Is there a basis to choose from different ID models like Action Mapping or ADDIE or SAM?

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Hi Gurmeet! Good questions. My understanding is that FSU created ADDIE when working with the US Government, and it was a waterfall method at that time. You can learn more about it here: www.nwlink.com/~donclark/history_isd/addie.html These days it’s not executed in that way, and other ID processes adopt the same general steps (analysis, design, dev, etc). SAM is no exception here, but there are other models that try to make ADDIE more “agile.” I think one is called LLAMA or something like that (created by Megan Torrence, but I haven’t looked into that one yet). Regarding your other question, I think most people adopt things from different models to find what works for them / their organizations. I will record a video though comparing a handful of processes and sharing guidelines about when each may be most effective 😃

[@PawarGurmeet]

@@DevlinPeckYT Thank you for the revert. I will look forward to your video on it🙂👍

[@bluebearh3]

lets go 500 likes+++++!!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Haha we're halfway there!

[@bluebearh3]

we have arrived@@DevlinPeckYT

[@JE-es4sg]

Sounds awesome! Has this happened yet?

[@DevlinPeckYT]

We didn't end up getting enough interest at the time, but I'll put it on the list of YT video ideas if it picks back up!

[@SimplyTresha]

If speed and agility is the goal of the model, why the rule of three? If there’s no dissent on “why shouldn’t we..?” Doesn’t additional prototyping just add unnecessary time? Curious of the reasoning there.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Great question, Tarisha. Michael Allen says because it “nearly always reveals a superior design.” And he acknowledges that the third iteration can be a combo of the first two prototypes of there were no major red flags in either of the first two.

[@SimplyTresha]

@@DevlinPeckYT thank you for the quick reply & appreciate your answering my question! I got the book so I can learn more.

[@estharroja6275]

Hello Devlin I'm a teacher who wants to create my resume in instructional design...can you help?

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Hi! Yes, there is content on the channel to help you with your ID resume 😃. I’d also suggest focusing on your portfolio, as that will help a lot, too.

[@estharroja6275]

@@DevlinPeckYT thanks a lot...started watching

[@jimmygrant3151]

Successive approximation sounds a lot like scafolding content.